WHO AWaRe Classification of Antibiotics for Rwanda

Rwanda’s national list of essential medicines for adults and children was last updated in 2015 and did not reflect the most recent WHO’s Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics. WHO categorizes antibiotics into three classes: antibiotics to improve access to (Access), important antibiotics to monitor (Watch), and antibiotics whose effectiveness needs to be preserved as a last resort (Reserve). The adoption of WHO’s AWaRe classification by countries is a strategy for optimizing the use of antimicrobial medicines to contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

This technical brief summarizes MTaPS’ support to the Rwanda Ministry of Health to integrate AWaRe classification of antibiotics into the revision of the 2021 National Essential Medicines List (NEML). In partnership with WHO and in consultation with the MOH and national stakeholders, MTaPS helped in the classification of 42 antibiotics: 20 as antibiotics to improve access to (Access), 14 as important antibiotics to monitor (Watch), and 8 antibiotics whose effectiveness needs to be preserved as a last resort (Reserve). The classified antibiotics were inserted into the NEML during its revision. The integration of WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics into the Rwanda NEML is a preliminary step toward the implementation of the recently adopted One Health policy in Rwanda.